Battle of Bandit's Crossing

The Battle of Bandit's Crossing occurred on 27 February 1993 during the Somali Civil War. The US 10th Mountain Division was sent in to provide security for a UN food delivery mission, holding off the Somali militants from the Habr Gedir clan.

The UNOSOM II forces handed out food and medical supplies to Somali civilians in an area where there had been previously reported Habr Gedir activity, so the third platoon of the 10th Mountain Division was sent in to establish four observation posts around the village at "Bandit's Crossing" and to prevent any disturbances of the food distribution or civilian casualties. The platoon was deployed by boat alongside UNOSOM personnel, and the soldiers secured a perimeter around the food distribution point.

The US soldiers disembarked at a dock and made their way towards the UN convoy, which had come under attack by the Somali militants. The US soldiers cleared the village at Bandit's Crossing and then headed to OP Foxtrot just west of the bridge, where they took up cover positions to defend the area against militia attack. The US forces held off militia attacks until they could blow the bridge between the village and the enemy camp, preventing the Habr Gedir militants from interrupting the UN food distribution.